Proper Toenail Care

Proper toenail care, like a lot of things, is no big deal. Until you have a problem that you realize could have been prevented if you'd just taken care of your toenails properly. So, what does that even mean? Here are the basics.

Trim your toenails straight across, especially the nail on your big toe. It might look prettier to follow the curve of your toe and to round the edges. But, don't do it! Cutting into the corners of your toenails can lead to ingrown toenails.

Trim your toenails to the proper length. Again, this is especially important for your big toe. Toenails should be trimmed to be even with the tip of the toe. Many people like to cut their toenails shorter, but this can lead to accidentally cutting live skin and possible infection. Others like their toenails to be slightly longer but this can cause their toenails to gently tap the front of their shoes repeatedly, which can lead to pain or even toenail loss. I'm not kidding. One of my friends once danced her toenail off and my mother once hiked hers off! True stories.

Smooth any rough edges. It might not seem important but rough edges can snag socks or pantyhose, tearing holes in them or even ripping off a portion of the nail. It only takes a few seconds to file away any rough spots.